Patents Examined by Tri T Nguyen
  • Patent number: 10083408
    Abstract: A unit includes a receiving member of sensor information of the unit, a communication member with the other units, a storage member for storing target building information and information on sensors and facilities in an information-exchangeable manner, an identification member for identifying an internal unit and an external unit of the other building by specific information, an optimization member for reading an energy calculation expression, etc., of the internal unit, selecting an operation condition provided, and performing simulation of the entire target building, a related-unit searching member for searching the other internal unit and the external unit for a related unit, an optimization member for reading an operation condition from the related units, performing simulation for optimization, and an operation member for operating the facilities on the basis of the operation condition and the sensor information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Inventor: Bumpei Magori
  • Patent number: 10072864
    Abstract: A comparison unit compares the outside air temperature in outside air temperature information acquired by an outside air temperature acquisition unit with an outside air temperature threshold that has been set by a threshold setting unit. A first information acquisition unit acquires ON operation information. A device control unit performs passive control when the outside air temperature is in a temperature range on a comfortable side with respect to the outside air temperature threshold. Where the outside air temperature is in a temperature range on an uncomfortable side with respect to the outside air temperature threshold, the device control unit performs passive control until an ON operation is performed and performs active control once the ON operation is performed. The passive control involves performing OFF control of the active device and natural environment usage control of a passive device. The active control involves performing ON control of the active device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Inventors: Yuka Abe, Atsushi Mise
  • Patent number: 10067524
    Abstract: In a management device, a state determination table in a first storage portion indicates correspondence relationships in which target achievement levels are respectively associated with combinations with division periods and ranges of amount of power. An action table in a second storage portion indicates correspondence relationships with operations for making an execution portion perform and the target achievement levels. A first extraction portion extracts, from the state determination table, a target achievement level corresponding to a combination with a division period including a date acquired by a date acquisition portion and a range of amount of power including the amount of consumed power acquired by a power acquisition portion. A second extraction portion extracts, from the action table, an operation corresponding to the target achievement level extracted by the first extraction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Rikiya Masuda, Kiyotaka Takehara
  • Patent number: 10061281
    Abstract: A controller support program causes an arithmetic unit to execute total execution time acquisition processing of acquiring a total execution time and output processing of outputting the total execution time. The total execution time is an elapsed time until execution of a control program is ended in an execution cycle since the execution cycle is started when a controller executes the control program according to an execution priority and the execution cycle, and the total execution time is also a time measured in the controller or a time estimated in a controller support device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumiaki Narutani, Taku Oya, Yoshiya Shibata
  • Patent number: 10061286
    Abstract: A multiple-input/multiple-output control routine in the form of a model predictive control (MPC) routine operates with wireless or other sensors that provide non-periodic, intermittent or otherwise delayed process variable measurement signals at an effective rate that is slower than the MPC controller scan or execution rate. The wireless MPC routine operates normally even when the measurement scan period for the controlled process variables is significantly larger than the operational scan period of the MPC controller routine, while providing control signals that enable control of the process in a robust and acceptable manner. During operation, the MPC routine uses an internal process model to simulate one or more measured process parameter values without performing model bias correction during the scan periods at which no new process parameter measurements are transmitted to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: FISHER-ROSEMOUNT SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Wilhelm K. Wojsznis, Terrence L. Blevins, Mark J. Nixon, John M. Caldwell
  • Patent number: 10048711
    Abstract: Operations of nuclear power plants have been suspended in various locations due to the Great East Japan Earthquake. However, it is not necessarily essential to undertake strict emergency energy saving measures at all times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Nihon Techno Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiichi Umamoto
  • Patent number: 10048703
    Abstract: A force feedback cuff system, method, and apparatus may include receiving force feedback signal from an external, remotely controlled device; processing the force feedback signal to determine a correlated amount of pressure; applying a correlated signal to air pump equipment to inflate or deflate an inflatable cuff on an operator; and continuing the receiving, processing, and applying while the operator controls the external, remotely controlled device to provide haptic feedback to the operator in an intuitive and non-obtrusive fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Adam Shaker, Andrew Czop, Aaron O'Toole, Carlos Ramos Garcia
  • Patent number: 10048160
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for diagnosing a valve assembly having valve members serially arranged along a flow channel of the valve assembly connecting at least one inlet and at least one outlet of the valve assembly. All of the serially arranged valve members of the valve assembly are opended to allow fluid to flow through the flow channel. The flow of fluid through the flow channel is measured by at least one sensor. At least one of the valve members is openend, and at least one sensor checks for fluid leakage caused by at least one faulted valve member. The at least one sensor may include a flow sensor, e.g., a mass flow sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Gnoss, Michael Heger, Rainer Lochschmied, Anton Pallek, Mike Schmanau, Bernd Schmiederer, Martin Wetzel, Armin Wiegand
  • Patent number: 10036218
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for regulating drilling fluid pressure in a drilling fluid circulation system. In one embodiment, a drilling fluid circulation system includes a processor (110) connected to a pressure relief device (104), which is connected to piping between a discharge of a drilling fluid pump (30) and an inlet of a drill string (31). The processor receives pressure measurement signals representative of a pressure of the drilling fluid in the piping and flow parameter signals representative of a flow of the drilling fluid through the piping. From the pressure measurement signals and the flow parameter signals, the processor determines that a target pressure parameter of the drilling fluid in the piping is not satisfied. In response, the processor lowers the pressure of the drilling fluid in the piping until the target pressure parameter is satisfied by at least partially opening the pressure relief device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Lars Oy
  • Patent number: 10031493
    Abstract: The invention relates to an actuator apparatus (1) for generating the motion of a tool, in particular for the work on biological cell material, which provides at least one electrically controlled actuator element (3), a motion section (3a), at which a tool can be arranged and which is linked to the at least one actuator element, an electrical control device (11) for controlling the at least one actuator element, an electrical measurement device (12), which is configured to perform a measuring method for measuring at least one electrical capacitance quantity of the at least one actuator element, wherein the capacitance quantity is usable to provide information on the status of the actuator apparatus. Further, a corresponding method for obtaining and utilizing said information on the actuator apparatus is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Inventors: Andreas Schirr, Andreas Graff
  • Patent number: 10021842
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide irrigation controllers, comprising: a transformer configured to step down a voltage producing an AC power signal; a live AC line and an AC common line coupled with the transformer; a plurality of AC switches coupled with the live AC line and configured to selectively pass the AC power signal to one or more valve solenoids such that the one or more valve solenoids are effectively coupled across the live AC line and the AC common line; an impedance element coupled serially on the AC common line with the transformer, wherein the impedance element comprises an inductive reactance and a resistive component, and the impedance element is configured to increase overvoltage protection between the transformer and the plurality of AC switches increasing an effective voltage tolerance to the overvoltage conditions at the AC switches; and a controller configured to selectively control the plurality of AC switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Martin Castaneda Martinez, Angel Reyes Archundia
  • Patent number: 10012976
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a turbine engine blade including an airfoil with a profile defined by a theoretical digital model, the method including: manufacturing a blank having a thickened portion along a trailing edge of the airfoil relative to the theoretical profile; removing the thickened portion by adaptive machining, including: positioning the blank in a reference frame; acquiring, by probing at a predetermined number of points on a first surface of the blank along the trailing edge, positions of the points in the reference frame; determining differences, in one direction, in position from corresponding points of the theoretical model; producing machining grids on the blank surface, peaks of the grids determined from the points; determining an amount of material to be removed from the surface of the grids, based on the position of the points relative to the peaks and the deviations in position; and machining the airfoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Yvon Marie-Joseph Louesdon, Florian Le Merdi, Joseph Tami, Daniel Quach, Fadoua Cisse, Sabine Maltaverne, Damien Alquier
  • Patent number: 10006653
    Abstract: An air conditioning system includes air conditioning facilities with an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, a dedicated transmission line, a general-purpose equipment controller, and an energy management gateway. The energy management gateway includes a dedicated transmission line that enables communication with the air conditioning facilities via the dedicated transmission line, a management controller that collects management information preregistered for managing the air conditioning facilities from among various information received via the dedicated transmission line, and a processing controller that executes computational processing related to management of the air conditioning facilities on the basis of the collected management information, and controls the air conditioning facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Yabuta, Shigeo Takata
  • Patent number: 10001290
    Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus control system includes connected devices each including a memory to sequentially store control data which is acquired during operation and is associated with control of the connected device. To back up the control data in the memory of the connected device, a backup destination is selected from the other connected devices included in a plurality of air-conditioning apparatuses constituting the air-conditioning apparatus control system on the basis of an available memory space in each of the other connected devices. The control data is backed up to the selected backup destination at time when it is determined that backup has no interference with communication for a normal operation in the air-conditioning apparatus control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kuniaki Toriyama, Mitsuru Kitazaki
  • Patent number: 9997913
    Abstract: Systems and methods for operation of an AC power supply distribution circuit that has a limited supply capacity rely on dynamically measured available load capacity to regulate operation of the AC power supply circuit, and existing and potential loads, to avoid fault or damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9991707
    Abstract: Aggregate load controllers and associated methods are described. According to one aspect, a method of operating an aggregate load controller includes using an aggregate load controller having an initial state, applying a stimulus to a plurality of thermostatic controllers which are configured to control a plurality of respective thermostatic loads which receive electrical energy from an electrical utility to operate in a plurality of different operational modes, accessing data regarding a response of the thermostatic loads as a result of the applied stimulus, using the data regarding the response, determining a value of at least one design parameter of the aggregate load controller, and using the determined value of the at least one design parameter, configuring the aggregate load controller to control amounts of the electrical energy which are utilized by the thermostatic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: David P. Chassin
  • Patent number: 9983560
    Abstract: A positioning device and a programmable logic controller (PLC) system including the positioning device are provided. The positioning device includes a computing unit that analyzes a positioning start instruction that includes an operation pattern, a storage unit that stores therein an operation pattern and an analysis result obtained by the computing unit analyzing the operation pattern stored in the storage unit in association with each other, and an instruction generating unit including a processor that, when it is verified that the operation pattern stored in the storage unit corresponds to the operation pattern included in the positioning start instruction, reads the analysis result associated with the operation pattern stored in the storage unit and generates positioning instruction data for positioning a control target by using the read analysis result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsushi Narui, Haruki Inoue
  • Patent number: 9979192
    Abstract: An electrical power system includes an electrical power distribution network and a control device configured to regulate at least one attribute of said electrical power system. The electrical power system further includes a processor coupled to the control device configured to identify an out-of-bound condition on said electrical power distribution network at a first time. The out-of-bound condition is associated with the at least one attribute. The processor is also configured to determine a trend for the at least one attribute at a second time that is later than the first time after a predetermined delay time elapses. The trend indicates a direction away from at least one of a predetermined range and a predetermined value. The processor is also configured to transmit a control action to said control device based at least in part on the trend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Miaolei Shao, Harjeet Johal, Jovan Z. Bebic, Naresh Acharya
  • Patent number: 9970230
    Abstract: A device for monitoring a machine movement of a movable constructional element includes a detecting device and a control device. The detection device comprises at least one transmission unit which transmits a signal, and a reception unit which receives the signal. The control device comprises an evaluation unit which evaluates the signal received at the reception unit. The control device allows the machine movement upon a receipt of the signal at the reception unit, and to output a first triggering pulse to stop the machine movement in an absence of the signal at the reception unit. The evaluation unit comprises a first threshold value measuring unit to detect a signal strength of the signal received at the reception unit and which, upon detection that a predetermined threshold value of a signal strength is fallen short of, outputs a second triggering pulse to stop the machine movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FRABA B.V.
    Inventor: Lucien Scholten
  • Patent number: 9968877
    Abstract: An intelligent air-conditioning controlling system comprises an intelligent controlling device, an air-conditioning, a plurality of sensing devices, and a cloud server. The intelligent controlling device receives environment information and user information from the plurality of sensing devices, and calculates a target temperature. The cloud server retrieves a usage record of a user according to the user information, and executes a big data analysis for generating a historical record and recommended environment temperature according to historical data and the environment information. The intelligent controlling device receives the usage record, the historical record and recommended environment temperature and a control parameter from the cloud server, and generates a control command for the air-conditioning in accordance with the target temperature, the usage record, the historical record and recommended environment temperature and the control parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Ping-Chieh Chan, Cheng-Yi Huang, Kuo-Shu Tseng, Hua-Yi Hsieh, Yuan-Ping Hsieh